US Politics

A U.S. official identified by sources as Patel flew to Italy on an FBI-operated jet and plans to attend the U.S. men’s Olympic hockey medal-round games, according to people familiar with the trip. The flight’s timing, departure point, and official purpose have not been publicly disclosed. The FBI and other U.S. agencies have not commented on the use of the bureau’s aircraft or on Patel’s schedule at the Games. Italian officials and Olympic organizers have not listed the visit on public schedules, and no travel documents or flight records have been released.

Team USA freestyle skier Hunter Hess made a hand gesture shaped like the letter “L” after completing a successful halfpipe qualifying run.

Sources say former U.S. President Donald Trump has discussed possible timelines and options for potential military strikes against Iran, but no final decision or order has been made. The internal review reportedly involves security and defense advisers, planning scenarios, and assessments of regional risks and potential Iranian responses, with no confirmed timeline or commitment to action.

A federal judge in Minnesota has held a U.S. Department of Justice attorney in civil contempt of court in an immigration-related case, underscoring rising tensions between the judiciary and the Trump administration over immigration enforcement. The contempt order cites failure to comply with court instructions and raises questions about executive authority, judicial oversight and government compliance with legal rulings in immigration matters.

The Trump administration expanded U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement authority to detain refugees who entered the United States legally but have not yet received green cards, according to a government memo obtained by CBS News. The policy places lawfully admitted refugees without permanent resident status under increased scrutiny and allows ICE to review and potentially detain them during the interim period before they become permanent residents. The memo reflects a broader effort to reexamine legal immigration categories and adjust enforcement practices within the existing refugee and immigration system.

Democratic members of Congress have called on federal inspectors general to investigate whether former lobbyists in the Trump administration violated ethics rules or aided past clients. The lawmakers are seeking records, reviews of recusal agreements, and details on ethics enforcement for ex-lobbyists who entered government service. The request targets multiple agencies and focuses on potential conflicts of interest, decision-making, and policy influence tied to former private-sector work. Inspectors general will decide whether to open formal probes and may issue reports to Congress.

Rev. Jesse Jackson, civil rights leader, Baptist minister and two-time Democratic presidential candidate, has died at age 84 in Chicago, his family announced. Jackson marched alongside Martin Luther King Jr., helped lead the civil rights movement in the 1960s, and later founded and headed the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, a Chicago-based organization focused on voting rights, economic justice and social equity. He became a national political figure with influential presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988. Jackson also undertook international missions that helped secure the release of Americans held abroad and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

The U.S. military has struck three more suspected drug-smuggling boats, killing 11 people and raising the reported death toll to at least 145 since a campaign against small maritime vessels began in September. This fact-based report outlines what is publicly known about the targets, the nature of the operations, casualty figures and the broader counter-narcotics context driving the strikes. The article summarizes available official information on how the vessels are identified, the scope of the campaign at sea, the lack of disclosed tactical details and the continuing focus on disrupting alleged drug trafficking routes in international waters.